European Union envoys are set to meet as early as this week to formulate a plan for measures to respond to a possible no-deal scenario with U.S. President Donald Trump, whose tariff negotiating position is seen to have stiffened ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline.

The overwhelming preference is to keep negotiations with Washington on track in a bid for an outcome to the impasse ahead of next month¡¯s deadline.

Still, efforts have yet to yield sustained progress following talks in Washington last week, according to people familiar with the matter. Negotiations will continue over the next two weeks.